with DS#1 i didnt have any bloody show until my water broke. I dont really know if I lost my mucus plug with him either, although I was 3 1/2 cm when I went into labor with with him. With this pregnancy, I believe i lost my plug in a couple of slimy globs over a weeks time. I was only at a finger tip dialted, and am still only at 1 cm. I am 100% effaced though. So I think it is just different each and every time. No matter what it was like before or what it was like for anyone else.

Never saw any with my first 2; saw a little bit with #3 AFTER early labor had already begun. So no, you don't *have* to see it, and I would also imagine it'd be easy to miss anyway (like if you went to the bathroom and it came out then in the toilet, you might not even notice, yk?)

hehe, i was going to post this same question. i didn't have a plug or a bloody show. my ob told me to rush in if i had a bloody show... but i've never had one so how do i know if labor is near... obviously if my water breaks but any other signs.